AP TEAM Term Paper Project: Outline Format

I.              Introductory paragraph and THESIS (about ½ page)

 

II.            Shaping forces of your person’s argument(s)  (about 2 ½ pages)

                What shaped your person and his/her essential argument(s) and action(s) relevant to his/her primary work?

·         Focus on proving how various forces helped to create your unique person.  Prove the influences behind the argument(s) in the work you’ve chosen

·         Insert a quote or image from a primary source that showcases the shaping forces of the argument(s) (make sure to analyze this quote or image later in this movement)

A.   PERSONAL FACTORS: upbringing, family life, education, most influential people and events,

B.   SOCIETAL FACTORS: politics, society, technology, religion, culture, economy, conflicts, the arts, etc.

C.   SOCIETAL FACTORS: politics, society, technology, religion, culture, economy, conflicts, the arts, etc.

(D.    SOCIETAL FACTORS: politics, society, technology, religion, culture, economy, conflicts, the arts, etc.)*

 

III.           Predominant Argument(s) and Rhetorical/Style Analysis (about ½ page of an excerpt and about 2 ½ pages of analysis)

Insert an essential excerpt from the person’s work (then you will analyze this passage in this movement)

·         What are his/her essential argument(s) found in the passage (a thorough discussion of the literary and/or social

concerns/philosophies)?

of this writer and how his/her works reflect these views.)? 

·         What are the rhetorical strategies employed by your person in the passage?

Choose only those that apply: structure of the passage, characterization, diction, important and relevant syntactic features,

figurative language, sound devices, point of view, mood, use of pathos, etc.

·         Categorize this movement into the following 3 or 4 subtopics.  Choose one of the following formats to best fit your needs for this movement:*

                Sample Format #1                 Sample Format #2                 Sample Format #3

                Rhetorical Strategy                            Author’s argument(s)                        Custom Option?

                A. Argument(s)                                    A. Arguments                                       A. Argument(s)

                     Overview/intro.                                    Overview/intro.                                    Overview/intro.

                B. Rhetorical strategy                          B. Argument #1                                    B.

                                                                                     1. Rhetorical strategy                          1.

                                                                                     2. Rhetorical strategy                          2.       

                C. Rhetorical strategy                          C. Argument #2                                    C.

                                                                                     1. Rhetorical strategy                          1.

                                                                                     2. Rhetorical strategy                          2.

                (D. Rhetorical strategy?)                     (D. Argument #3)                                 D.

                                                                     1. Rhetorical strategy                          1.

                                                                     2. Rhetorical strategy                          2.       

 

IV.           Discussion of literary criticism on the author’s work and explanation of author’s overall impact on

American society  (about 2 ½  pages)

·         Insert a quote or image from a primary source that validates your claim of the legacies that his/her work and argument(s) have had or will have on American society (analyze this quote or image later in this movement)

What were, are, or are likely to be the legacies and literary contributions of his/her work on American society?

·         Consider: research on opinions of the author’s work and contributions, a logical context/organization to present these published criticisms, contribution to the literature/politics/popular culture of his/her country, contribution to history of literature in general, universality of author’s themes, and aesthetic value (popular appeal) of author’s work.

·         Blend in opinions from expert historians or literary critics where they will be particularly effective.  Your careful handling of these various criticisms will have a serious impact on the cohesiveness of your paper.

A.      Legacy #1 (including evidence/support from historical and/or literary experts)

B.       Legacy #2 (including evidence/support from historical and/or literary experts)

C.       Legacy #3 (including evidence/support from historical and/or literary experts)

(D.    Legacy #4 (including evidence/support from historical and/or literary experts))*

 

V.            Conclusion (about ½ page)

 

VI.           Works Cited

·         10+ sources: one major work by the author or artist PLUS 7 to 9 academic/hard sources (totaling at least10).  Other sources like web sites may count as additional sources.*

VII.         Annotated Bibliography

·         Include all sources cited and those read or consulted during your research that were not included in the Works Cited page.  Write a one-sentence description of each source.

 

* See the teachers if you have questions on these four points.  Some flexibility and student discretion is to be expected.